For nearly eight decades, generations of Grundy Volunteer Fire Department members have answered the call when their neighbors needed them most.
Last Wednesday, Aug. 12, marked the department’s 79th anniversary, celebrating a history built by volunteers who have given their time and placed their safety at risk to protect the Town of Grundy and communities throughout Buchanan County.
GVFD Capt. Corey Viers said the anniversary provides an opportunity to honor that history while also looking toward the department’s future.
“Reaching 79 years as a fire department is something that deserves to be recognized, but I think what matters most is what we’re doing to make sure this department is still here and serving this community years from now,” Viers said.
The department’s long history has been shaped by men and women willing to leave their homes and families at a moment’s notice to respond to fires, vehicle crashes and other emergencies.
“Grundy Fire Department has a long history of volunteers who have sacrificed their time, their families’ time, and often their own safety to protect the Town of Grundy and Buchanan County,” Viers said. “We have a responsibility to honor that history, but we have to continue moving forward.”
Training has become a major part of that effort. Viers said 21 of the department’s 22 members have earned at least Firefighter I certification, with another member working toward completing the certification. The department also has 11 instructors among its ranks.
“That’s something I’m extremely proud of because it shows we’re not just putting people in trucks, we’re investing in making sure they’re properly trained and prepared to do the job,” Viers said.
Viers said ensuring the department remains prepared to serve future generations will require more than finding people willing to respond when an alarm sounds.
“If Grundy Fire is going to be here serving this community another 79 years from now, it will take more than just having people willing to answer the alarm,” he said. “It takes training, accountability, transparency, and a commitment to continually improving how we serve our community.”
That commitment also means protecting the confidence residents have placed in the department, Viers said.
“We have to be good stewards of the trust this community has placed in us and hold ourselves to a high standard both on the fireground and within the department,” he said.
The department continues to follow the same mission that has guided its service: “Grundy Fire Department is dedicated to offering the highest level of fire protection to the Town of Grundy and Buchanan County, ensuring a safe and secure environment for our residents and businesses.”
As GVFD celebrates 79 years, Viers said the anniversary is both a milestone and a reminder that the department’s work continues.
“I’m proud of where Grundy Fire Department is today, but I’m even more excited about where we’re headed,” Viers said. “Seventy-nine years is a tremendous accomplishment, but it’s not the finish line.”
He credited the department’s members for continuing to train, prepare and serve whenever the community calls.
“I’m proud to be part of a department that continues to answer the call, and I’m proud of the men and women who are willing to put in the work to make sure we’re ready when our community needs us,” Viers said.
The current Grundy Volunteer Fire Department roster includes:
Bob Anderson, chief; Randy Surber, deputy chief; Albert Childress, assistant chief; Corey Viers, captain; Billy Yates, lieutenant; Mike Hatfield, sergeant; Anthony Scott, sergeant; Shane Anderson, sergeant; Ryan Lark, chaplain/firefighter; Phil Vandyke, master firefighter; Danny Hawks, master firefighter; Johnny Sexton, master firefighter; Rusty Lark, master firefighter; Michael Rowlett, master firefighter; Wyatt Surber, Firefighter II; Glenn StClair, Firefighter II; Angel StClair, Firefighter II; Austin Mullins, Firefighter II; John Lark, Firefighter I; Kyler Yates, Firefighter I; Blake Childress, Firefighter I; and Logan Mullins, firefighter/IT.
